http://lutherankantor.com/2008/01/29/difficult-hymns-that-are-not-difficult/ Receiving the gifts God gives through Word and Sacrament Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:47:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://lutherankantor.com/2008/01/29/difficult-hymns-that-are-not-difficult/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Susan Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:39:05 +0000 http://lutherankantor.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-14 Our congregation traditionally sings May God Bestow on Us His Grace (LSB 823). We introduced it as a choral piece, years ago. That's how we introduce challenging or simply unfamiliar hymns: through the choir. It usually only takes a few times. Generally, even the first time it's used as a congregational hymn, the choir sings the first few verses before the congregation joins in. It would be next to impossible to introduce and to successfully incorporate such hymns into regular usage without the choir, in my opinion. No amount of organ-playing can substitute hearing the words and the music together. It takes little courage to just listen; it takes differing amounts of courage for people to open their mouths and sing something 'new'. I've tried it a time or two while the choir was on its summer break, and crickets chirped louder than people sang. Humiliating. We also try to be judicious as to how often we bring in a challenging hymn (as opposed to one that's simply unfamiliar but not challenging). Of course, the congregation might disagree :O) But we've been 'introducing' in overtime, since the LSB has been our sole hymnal. Fortunately, the organ I play has the capacity to do what I cannot: transpose. So some hymns are made easier by transposing down a half- or whole-step. New hymns are always sung in unison, even when they're harmonized nicely, such as the rhythmic setting of A Mighty Fortress (which the choir actually prefers), and From Depths of Woe I Cry. Unison singing is easier to hear, and it has a power that's hard to resist. Our congregation traditionally sings May God Bestow on Us His Grace (LSB 823). We introduced it as a choral piece, years ago.
That’s how we introduce challenging or simply unfamiliar hymns: through the choir. It usually only takes a few times. Generally, even the first time it’s used as a congregational hymn, the choir sings the first few verses before the congregation joins in.
It would be next to impossible to introduce and to successfully incorporate such hymns into regular usage without the choir, in my opinion. No amount of organ-playing can substitute hearing the words and the music together. It takes little courage to just listen; it takes differing amounts of courage for people to open their mouths and sing something ‘new’. I’ve tried it a time or two while the choir was on its summer break, and crickets chirped louder than people sang. Humiliating.
We also try to be judicious as to how often we bring in a challenging hymn (as opposed to one that’s simply unfamiliar but not challenging). Of course, the congregation might disagree :O) But we’ve been ‘introducing’ in overtime, since the LSB has been our sole hymnal.
Fortunately, the organ I play has the capacity to do what I cannot: transpose. So some hymns are made easier by transposing down a half- or whole-step.
New hymns are always sung in unison, even when they’re harmonized nicely, such as the rhythmic setting of A Mighty Fortress (which the choir actually prefers), and From Depths of Woe I Cry. Unison singing is easier to hear, and it has a power that’s hard to resist.

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